Thinking While Dreaming of City Design with Anthony Vanky of Columbia University

 

Lately it seems that the flashier the concept, the more it’s talked about in general. The real challenge in that is that concentrating solely on “high-level concepts” can sometimes come at the expense of basic knowledge.

On today’s podcast, we spoke with Assistant Professor Anthony Vanky of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University. We discussed the importance of basic thinking skills, the pitfalls of “balkanization” on a university level, and if splashy projects do more harm than good in the long run.

“If you think about the debates that we had in rebuilding cities in the 1960s, here in the United States: we mowed down entire neighborhoods for the grand vision. And what was missing in all of that,” Vanky said.

“It’s the local knowledge of that coffee shop that was actually a community anchor. It was the neighborhood structure of how people interacted, therefore had community. So, a lot of times now, as technology is becoming more and more pervasive and more and more in our everyday conversation, and we’re starting to embed this in cities, we’re going back to that high level without some of that deeper thinking sometimes,” Vanky said.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the AEC Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @AECMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

DXpedition
Icom Powers 3Y0K : Ham Radio’s Most Ambitious DXpedition to Remote Bouvet Island Part 1
July 11, 2025

Bouvet Island sits at the edge of the world. It is frozen, uninhabited, and almost impossible to access. Fewer people have set foot there than in space. That level of remoteness is exactly what makes it so valuable to amateur radio operators. The island ranks tenth on ClubLog’s list of Most Wanted DXCC entities,…

Read More
entrepreneurial success
The Hidden Key to Entrepreneurial Success: Build Momentum Through Personal Branding and Authentic Networking
July 10, 2025

What if the biggest pivot of your career started with a conversation?  In this episode of Professional Quotient, host Jason Winningham welcomes Fanny Dunagan, CEO and Content Strategist of PathLynks, LLC. Fanny shares her journey from high-pressure consulting in Singapore to founding her own media and branding company — and why learning to network…

Read More
Q2 2025
RM Q2 2025 Wrap Up
July 9, 2025

Rogue Marketing continues to lead with intention in a space often driven by noise. Q2 2025 reflected a strategic focus on substance, where each initiative supported long-term brand growth. The team transformed internal recognition efforts into enduring brand assets and refined event strategies through immersive, results-driven experiences. Website launches during the quarter balanced visual…

Read More
amateur radios
Hamvention Spotlight: Emergency Preparedness Led PrepHam Paul to Amateur Radios and a Rising Voice in the Field
July 9, 2025

PrepHam Paul (K5VLP) celebrated his first visit to Dayton Hamvention by marking a major channel milestone. He hosted a giveaway of the  IC-2370B mobile radio from Icom to thank viewers for helping him reach 10,000 subscribers. His passion for emergency preparedness, rooted in his experience as an Eagle Scout and later studies in emergency management,…

Read More